Ceropegia Phuchongensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a New Species from Eastern Thailand
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Taiwania 65(2): 101‒108, 2020 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2020.65.101 Ceropegia phuchongensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new species from eastern Thailand Manit KIDYOO*, Kamonchanok SUWANNAKOTE Plants of Thailand Research Unit, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] (Manuscript received 7 November 2019; Accepted 5 February 2020; Online published 14 February 2020) ABSTRACT: A new species from Phu Chong-Na Yoi National Park, Ubon Ratchathani Province, eastern Thailand, Ceropegia phuchongensis Kidyoo & K. Suwann. )Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), is described, illustrated and compared with the related C. tenuicaulis Kidyoo. The new species differs in corolla tube shape, color and trichomes inside the corolla tube, as well as pollinium and corpusculum shape. In addition, the gynostegium surfaces of the two species also support the distinctiveness of the new species. KEY WORDS: Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Ceropegieae, dry deciduous forest, grass-like habit, Thailand, Tiloris. INTRODUCTION this plant was also spotted by a nature photographer about 500 kilometers away, at Khao Yai National Park, Ceropegia L., according to the phylogenetically- Nakhon Ratchasima Province, growing in similar based concept, is currently the most species-rich genus environmental conditions, The photographer, Chaiwat of the subfamily Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae), Tunkpradit, distributed his photographs to a facebook encompassing more than 700 species with the inclusion of group named ‘Wild flowers of Thailand’. Examination the former Brachystelma species and the stapeliads (Bruyns and comparison of vegetative and reproductive et al., 2017). The circumscription of the genus is thus structures indicated that this plant did not belong to any broadened substantially, resulting in lower morphological known Ceropegia species. Thereby, it is here described conformity in the group. In the morphology-based concept, as a new species and named C. phuchongensis. Detailed Ceropegia sensu stricto (Linnaeus, 1753) is, despite comparison of morphological characteristics between huge variation, traditionally characterized by flowers the new species and its putatively most close relative is with a corolla united to form a tubular to urceolate provided. structure with a basal portion that is more or less inflated, and usually connate at tip to form a cage-like structure MATERIALS AND METHODS (Huber, 1957; Li et al., 1995; Meve, 2002). Ceropegia sensu stricto includes over 200 species Plant materials were collected in their natural and has a distribution from Southeast Asia, China, India, habitats between 2012 and 2017. Voucher specimens Madagascar, tropical Arabia, the Canary Islands, Africa, were prepared and deposited at BKF and BCU. Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia (Huber, 1957; Morphological characters of the freshly collected Li et al., 1995; Meve, 2002; Thaithong et al., 2018). In specimens and the preserved specimens in the herbaria: Thailand, there are 18 described species (Kidyoo, 2018; BK, BKF, K, L, BM, P, QBG and BCU were examined Thaithong et al. 2018), with new species being regularly and compared. The morphological characters of discovered and further unknown plants actually being vegetative and reproductive parts were mostly observed under investigation. A new species to be described here under light microscope (LM). In addition, observations has been discovered in northeastern Thailand, the region of floral structures were made under scanning electron locally known as ‘Isan’ (including the northeastern and microscope (SEM). The gynostegia were cut and eastern floristic regions) which is the area with the separated from the flowers and preserved in 70% ethanol greatest diversity of Ceropegia in Thailand (Meve, 2009; for at least 24 hours before being dehydrated in alcohol Kidyoo, 2018; Thaithong et al., 2018). This unknown series and subsequently critical-point dried with liquid Ceropegia species was first found more than fifteen CO2. The dried specimens were then mounted on the years ago in Phu Chong-Na Yoi National Park, Ubon stubs and coated with gold. Lastly, the surface of Ratchathani province by Hasachai Boonnuang, who gynostegia were observed under a JSM-6610 LV drew my attention to the plant. It was found growing in microscope at 15 KV and compared with those of the sandy soil, in the open areas of dry deciduous similar C. tenuicaulis, revealed in previously published dipterocarp forest. Subsequently, in September 2014, studies. 101 Taiwania Vol. 65, No. 2 Fig 1. Reproductive structures of Ceropegia phuchongensis sp. nov.(A-C) and C. tenuicaulis (D-F): A, D. Flowers; B, E. Longitudinal sections of corolla tubes; C, F. Pollinaria. Photographs by M. Kidyoo. 102 2020 Kidyoo & Suwannakote: Ceropegia phuchongensis sp. nov. from Thailand Fig 2. SEM photographs of gynostegium and corona of Ceropegia phuchongensis sp. nov. (A-C) and C. tenuicaulis (D-F). A, D. Top view of gynostegia; B, E. Side view of gynostegia (stipes were removed); C, F. Basal parts of staminal corona lobes. 103 Taiwania Vol. 65, No. 2 Table 1. Morphological comparison of Ceropegia phuchongensis and the similar species. Characters C. phuchongensis C. tenuicaulis Stem 35–50 cm tall, unbranched, glabrous 30–50 cm tall, unbranched, glabrous Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 4.5–8.7 × 0.14–0.4 cm, glabrous linear to linear-lanceolate, 5–10.5 × 0.15–0.25 cm, glabrous Peduncle 0.8–2 cm length, glabrous 1–2.7 cm length, glabrous Pedicel 4–7 mm length, 0.5–0.8 mm in diam., glabrous 4–8 mm length, 0.8–1 mm in diam., glabrous Calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, 2.7–3.5 × 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous lanceolate, 1.4–1.7× 0.4–0.5 mm, glabrous Corolla tube globose, 0.7–1.0 cm length, inflated at midlength, 0.6– tubular-urceolate, 1.7–2.2 cm length, slightly inflated at 0.9 cm in diam.; inside the inflated portion yellowish base, 0.5–0.6 cm in diam.; inside the inflated portion white with irregular purplish brown dots (basally) and purplish brown, concentrical with scattered, stiff, 0.8– broad stripes (apically), with whitish, wrinkled and 0.9– 1.5 mm long trichomes 1.5 mm long trichomes Corolla lobes narrowly linear, 3.9–6 × 0.15–0.2 cm, covered with narrowly linear, 2.6–3.5 × 0.08–0.17 cm, covered with purple hairs, leaving hair free orifices basally purplish white to purple hairs, leaving hair-free orifices basally Gynostegium interstaminal corona lobes with a few trichomes on the interstaminal corona lobes with a beard of trichomes inner side and margins; epidermis of the lower parts of inside; epidermis of staminal corona lobes covered with staminal corona lobes covered with conical papillae pointed (trichome-like) papillae Pollinaria pollinia teardrop-shaped, 0.49–0.52 × 0.31–0.34 mm; pollina ovoid, 0.53–0.57 × 0.41–0.42 mm; corpusculum corpusculum spathulate with rounded apex, 0.32–0.35 spathulate with rounded apex, 0.40–0.41 × 0.19–0.21 × 0.14–0.16 mm mm RESULTS 0.7–1.0 cm length and 0.6–0.9 diam. which is inflated at its mid-length. The interior of this inflated part is yellowish Examination of the morphological characteristics of white with irregular purplish brown dots and stripes, and the new species in comparison to the similar C. densely covered with wrinkled, whitish trichomes of 0.9– tenuicaulis showed that both species are characterized 1.5 mm length. In contrast, C. tenuicaulis has an ovoid- by grass-like habit, with slender, erect and usually tubular corolla tube of 1.7–2.2 cm length and 0.5–0.6 cm unbranched stems that arise from a tuber, and bear linear diam. The tube has a slightly inflated basal portion and a leaves and 1-flowered cymes with a slender peduncle. long narrow upper part. The interior of its inflated part is Their corolla lobes are linear, covered with purple plain purplish brown and covered with scattered white trichomes on the adaxial surface and margins. In full trichomes of 0.7–1.4 mm length. bloom, the distal portions of these lobes are not twisted, Type: THAILAND. Ubon Ratchathani: Phu Chong- the basalmost parts are glabrous to leave (5) orifices. Na Yoi National Park, 450 m, 13 September 2012, M. Despite their similar corolla lobes, there is a clear Kidyoo 1570 (holotype, BKF!, isotype, BCU!). distinction between the two species in features of the Description: Herbs, perennial, erect, not twining, calyx, corolla tube, gynostegium and pollinarium (Figs with clear exudate in all vegetative parts. Rootstock 1 & 2, Table 1). Detailed comparison will be provided in tuberous; tubers subglobose to globose, smooth, light Discussion. brown, 1.6–2.2 cm in diam. Stem terete, solitary, Scanning electron micoscopic studies of gynostegium glabrous, unbranched, 35–50 cm tall, 1.1–2 mm in diam., with corona, again, show a high level of concordance green when young and turning brown with age; between the two elements. However, ultrastructural internodes 2–8 cm long. Leaves opposite, sessile; blade characters significantly support the separation in two linear to linear-lanceolate, 4.5–8.7 × 0.14–0.4 cm, different taxa. Ceropegia tenuicaulis bears interstaminal coriaceous, base attenuate, margins entire, slightly corona lobes that are densely pubescent on the inner side revolute, apex acute to acuminate; abaxial surface pale with stiff trichomes of 0.13–0.26 mm length, and staminal green, glabrous, adaxial surface green, glabrous; midrib corona lobes of which the lower portion is covered by greenish white, slightly convex on abaxial surface; pointed (trichome-like) papillae. In C. phuchongensis, lateral veins obscure on both surface. Inflorescence a 1– two clusters of a few stiff trichomes of 0.08–0.15 mm flowered cyme, extra-axillary; peduncle ascending to length covering the inner surface and scattered trichomes erect, straight, green to reddish brown, glabrous, 0.8–2 along the margins characterize its interstaminal corona cm long, 0.5– 0.7 mm in diam.; pedicel pinkish white to lobes.